breakinglight11 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
breakinglight11) wrote2018-08-02 12:32 pm
breakinglight11) wrote2018-08-02 12:32 pm
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31 Plays in 31 Days, #2 - "Keen"
Today's piece is a moment from early in the romantic relationship of Nathaniel and Clara, one of the background dramas in the past of the main plays that I enjoy exploring in short pieces. I particularly like how it's an opportunity to tell Hawking stories that, for once, do not center around our titular protagonist. Much as I love her, it's a little refreshing, and it broadens the world and the history.
This one is the moment where Justin and Clara talk for the first time after Justin's learned that the two of them have taken up. I love writing about the two of them, because they are two of the wittiest and most acerbic characters in the cast. Plus, Justin has the tendency to always have to blend sincerity with humor, sarcasm, and snark, which I find really fun to write and full of potential for both humor and pathos. I love it when I can combine those.
I'm going to have to make time to have this recorded as an audio piece. It would be perfect.
31 Plays in 31 Days, #2 - “Keen”
By Phoebe Roberts
JUSTIN HAWKING, Clara’s former boyfriend
CLARA PARTRIDGE, now seeing his brother
London, England, 1875
~~~
JUSTIN: Hello, Clara. It's been some time.
CLARA: Justin! What are you doing here?
JUSTIN: I suppose this must be a surprise. Were you ever planning to see me again?
CLARA: Truth be told, I haven't thought about you in quite a while. I'm sure you understand.
JUSTIN: Certainly. If I'd moved on directly from one chap to his little brother, I shouldn't like to look him in the eye either.
CLARA: So you heard.
JUSTIN: What exactly was it that attracted you to him? Was it the begging puppy aspect? How you can drag him about by the collar? Or was it just that you could rub my nose in it?
CLARA: Rub your nose in it? I didn’t even tell you.
JUSTIN: Have a guilty conscience, then?
CLARA: I'm not sure I'm the one with anything to be guilty over.
JUSTIN: Did you ever mean to tell me?
CLARA: As I said. I wasn't even thinking of you.
JUSTIN: So it all meant nothing to you? I know for a fact that isn't true.
CLARA: What does that mean?
JUSTIN: Don't think I don't remember. Or are you like that with every young man you walk out with?
CLARA: For heaven's sake! Do you mean to hold that over me?
JUSTIN: It's only that it happened, is all!
CLARA: Indeed? And are you going to tell Nathaniel and try to ruin everything?
JUSTIN: What? No!
CLARA: Then why bring it up?
JUSTIN: Because you—! See here, I'm not going to tell Nathaniel anything.
CLARA: Then... what is all this?
JUSTIN: All I meant to say is... I thought you ought to know, it seems he's quite serious. He cares for you, Clara. He— he might even be in love.
CLARA: Indeed?
JUSTIN: It's not my place to speak for him, but I've known him since the day he was born. When he talks of you... I'd never seen him like that before. So I've come to tell you, if this is a lark for you, or— some way to get back at me—
CLARA: Oh, good heavens! Someone thinks he's the center of the universe.
JUSTIN: He's keen, Clara. Enough that, if you're not... you'd best make that clear before too long.
CLARA: That's why you're here?
JUSTIN: I'll not have you break his heart. No matter what's gone on between us— not when it all means so much to him. That's all I meant to say.
CLARA: Really. Funny how much more you ended up saying.
JUSTIN: A man has his pride.
CLARA: And you never miss any opportunity to trip over yours. Well... for your information... I'm keen too. He's clever and funny and kind. And he never makes me feel like there's something, or someone, more interesting across the room.
JUSTIN: So you do like him.
CLARA: I do. As if I never needed you.
JUSTIN: Never?
CLARA: Never.
JUSTIN: Well. I never meant to break your heart, but a man likes to think he left a dent in it.
CLARA: Now you know how it feels, I suppose.
(She looks at him meaningfully. He smiles, just a little.)
JUSTIN: Just so. Why is it that the meaner you are, the more I like you?
CLARA: I’m beginning to suspect that's the way of Hawking men.
JUSTIN: Heavens. Don't tell my father, but you may be on to something there.
(Pause.)
JUSTIN: So. You and Nathaniel. Fancy that.
(Pause.)
JUSTIN: Don't be too mean to him. Make him work for it a little.
CLARA: Please. What do you take me for?
This one is the moment where Justin and Clara talk for the first time after Justin's learned that the two of them have taken up. I love writing about the two of them, because they are two of the wittiest and most acerbic characters in the cast. Plus, Justin has the tendency to always have to blend sincerity with humor, sarcasm, and snark, which I find really fun to write and full of potential for both humor and pathos. I love it when I can combine those.
I'm going to have to make time to have this recorded as an audio piece. It would be perfect.
31 Plays in 31 Days, #2 - “Keen”
By Phoebe Roberts
JUSTIN HAWKING, Clara’s former boyfriend
CLARA PARTRIDGE, now seeing his brother
London, England, 1875
~~~
JUSTIN: Hello, Clara. It's been some time.
CLARA: Justin! What are you doing here?
JUSTIN: I suppose this must be a surprise. Were you ever planning to see me again?
CLARA: Truth be told, I haven't thought about you in quite a while. I'm sure you understand.
JUSTIN: Certainly. If I'd moved on directly from one chap to his little brother, I shouldn't like to look him in the eye either.
CLARA: So you heard.
JUSTIN: What exactly was it that attracted you to him? Was it the begging puppy aspect? How you can drag him about by the collar? Or was it just that you could rub my nose in it?
CLARA: Rub your nose in it? I didn’t even tell you.
JUSTIN: Have a guilty conscience, then?
CLARA: I'm not sure I'm the one with anything to be guilty over.
JUSTIN: Did you ever mean to tell me?
CLARA: As I said. I wasn't even thinking of you.
JUSTIN: So it all meant nothing to you? I know for a fact that isn't true.
CLARA: What does that mean?
JUSTIN: Don't think I don't remember. Or are you like that with every young man you walk out with?
CLARA: For heaven's sake! Do you mean to hold that over me?
JUSTIN: It's only that it happened, is all!
CLARA: Indeed? And are you going to tell Nathaniel and try to ruin everything?
JUSTIN: What? No!
CLARA: Then why bring it up?
JUSTIN: Because you—! See here, I'm not going to tell Nathaniel anything.
CLARA: Then... what is all this?
JUSTIN: All I meant to say is... I thought you ought to know, it seems he's quite serious. He cares for you, Clara. He— he might even be in love.
CLARA: Indeed?
JUSTIN: It's not my place to speak for him, but I've known him since the day he was born. When he talks of you... I'd never seen him like that before. So I've come to tell you, if this is a lark for you, or— some way to get back at me—
CLARA: Oh, good heavens! Someone thinks he's the center of the universe.
JUSTIN: He's keen, Clara. Enough that, if you're not... you'd best make that clear before too long.
CLARA: That's why you're here?
JUSTIN: I'll not have you break his heart. No matter what's gone on between us— not when it all means so much to him. That's all I meant to say.
CLARA: Really. Funny how much more you ended up saying.
JUSTIN: A man has his pride.
CLARA: And you never miss any opportunity to trip over yours. Well... for your information... I'm keen too. He's clever and funny and kind. And he never makes me feel like there's something, or someone, more interesting across the room.
JUSTIN: So you do like him.
CLARA: I do. As if I never needed you.
JUSTIN: Never?
CLARA: Never.
JUSTIN: Well. I never meant to break your heart, but a man likes to think he left a dent in it.
CLARA: Now you know how it feels, I suppose.
(She looks at him meaningfully. He smiles, just a little.)
JUSTIN: Just so. Why is it that the meaner you are, the more I like you?
CLARA: I’m beginning to suspect that's the way of Hawking men.
JUSTIN: Heavens. Don't tell my father, but you may be on to something there.
(Pause.)
JUSTIN: So. You and Nathaniel. Fancy that.
(Pause.)
JUSTIN: Don't be too mean to him. Make him work for it a little.
CLARA: Please. What do you take me for?